Hitherby starts buzzing down the hall like some deadly insectoid missile, heading for the area she guesses to have the most people (so she can ask one where to find Props; she needs two humans present for that.) In the meantime, she nabs someone in a park to place a phone call. Anything I should roll for?
Hitherby is glad she's a Kyriotate. A Seraph, she assures herself smugly, would go nuts trying to monitor various parks while having to yank 5/9ths of itself away regularly to take over a human.
Demiurge will be generous and let you get away with the phone call, Hitherby.
You say "You come across several collapsing humans busy sitting down and drinking in what looks like a rest room, chattering idly about how the rehearsal is going."
Hitherby | "Hey, Pat, Sephar: down in the Opera House," "*beep*" "there's apparently somebody named 'Props' who hires people who is acting funny and somebody else I don't know who's asking questions but isn't one of us. I think he's a demon. Props, I mean. They probably killed him and created a Vessel to take his place."
Hitherby picks one, staying well away (don't squish the bee!) and attempts to pop into him or her.
You say "Roll, please."
<
You say "You're in."
You say "A young man, pale and rather delicate-looking, relaxing with arms and legs outflung."
Hitherby sniffs at the drink to see what it is, and rubs a hand through his hair. "So, where is 'Props'
these days?"
The others look at Hitherby's host strangely. Finally, a girl giggles, and says, "Well, in his office,
I guess. The rehearsal isn't over yet."
The drink is water.
Hitherby beams at the drink. This human is clearly wise. He drinks deep. "Remind me how to get
there? I need to check on something."
The other people blink, then one says, in tones of deep sarcasm, "Round the corridor and up the
stairs, and second on the right. You know. Same as usual."
Hitherby smiles. "Good!" he says, and scrambles to his feet. "I hate it when they start moving
around."
Hitherby drains her glass, and sets it down. "Good water," she comments, as she leads host and
bee out of the room.
Hitherby could, admittedly, take subterfuge lessons from a Seraph.
Gazes follow Hitherby as her host leaves.
Hitherby kicks off her shoes as she climbs the stairs, by the by.
You say "Daimon, you'd just left Props, and were about to head down to try and find Zebina, I
think."
Daimon says "Yep."
Demiurge says "Okay, Hitherby."
Demiurge says "You, in your current host, with bee, have located the room where "Props" is to
be found."
You say "Make a Perception roll, Daimon?"
<
Daimon says "I am not so mighty."
Hitherby accidentally flies into Daimon's eye, blinding him utterly? No, wait.
Daimon points out he has two eyes. :)
You say "Daimon, you fail to notice the bee flying behind the young man who is heading down
the corridor towards Props' room. Unless Hitherby really wants to "buzz" Daimon, who it will
recognise."
You say "Hitherby, you recognise that strange young man who you spied on earlier coming down
the corridor from Props' room."
Hitherby says "He's heading away from the room I'm heading to?"
Demiurge nods.
Hitherby will buzz him, yes. Actually, he may be more important than Props, as he's Game. (And
I prefer Renegades to unRenegade demons, although it's a sliver vs. a sliver.)
Hitherby's bee whirls merrily once around his head, if she can.
You say "Daimon, I believe that you do notice that bee buzzing round your head."
Daimon swears loudly, and tries to jump out of its way.
Hitherby isn't as sure that he's Game as he's sure of her, but he *was* investigating.
Hitherby turns her other host, and comments, calmly, from behind him, "Identify yourself."
You say "It doesn't actually sting, I think. Just buzzes round you in an annoying way."
Daimon swears anyway.
Hitherby's bee zooms a bit further down the hall than Daimon from Props, pinning him between
-- well, a guy and a bee.
Hitherby buzzes thoughtfully, attempting to determine in advance whether she will believe him
when he denies everything.
Daimon turns to the host and says, "Oh, hey, hi."
Daimon grins in a friendly way at the guy.
Hitherby nods her head towards this "Props" person's door. "Is anyone hurt in there?"
Daimon says "Nope, not last I checked. Which was about a minute ago."
Hitherby sighs. "Then --" She considers. "Corithel contacted you?"
Daimon blinks. "Excuse me?"
Hitherby sighs. "Listen. You're asking unusual questions outside. You're wandering these halls
at odd hours. We can play guessing games for a while, or you can explain why and what you're
actually doing here."
Daimon looks utterly confused. "I'm sorry. Do I know you?"
Daimon pages: I resonate on the guy.
You paged Daimon with 'Roll?'.
<
You paged Daimon with 'Gee, darn.'.
Daimon pages: Okay, then, I play dumb.
Hitherby hesitates a long moment. "I'm not going to make any threats. And I'm not going to hurt
you." He considers. "At least, not without, you know, substantial provocation. But it would be
wise for you to answer my question, for many reasons that have absolutely nothing to do with
me."
Daimon blinks a few times. "I'm sorry. My name is Daimon Lightner. I've come to gather some
misplaced friends who were sent out here from LA on mistake. I'm, uh, I do stand up. Does that
help?"
Hitherby frowns. "No," he admits. "It doesn't."
Hitherby pages: I move a few birds to circling/flight that can see all the exits.
Daimon starts to back away from the very strange man. "I'm, uh, sorry if I offended you in some
way."
Hitherby smiles faintly. "It doesn't matter."
Long distance to Hitherby: Demiurge nods.
Hitherby shrugs and turns towards Props.
Demiurge . o O ( Are we observing threat-behaviour as practiced among dragonflies? )
Daimon sighs with something that looks like relief, and heads off toward the rendezvous.
Daimon . o 0 (Weird.)
Hitherby's bee follows, noisily, while his human body stops outside Props' door.
Backstage, Demiurge says "Okay. You see Props' door."
Backstage, Hitherby waits a moment. She is hoping Daimon will try and lose the bee, so that she
can pick him up outside the building with him thinking he's lost her. And have the bee ready for
the Props daemon.
You say "Is Daimon trying to lose the bee, or just ignoring it?"
Daimon says "I'll try to lose the bee."
Daimon says "Mostly through swearing."
You say "Hm. You can also try ducking through doors. Hitherby, roll the dice."
<
Daimon tries ducking through doors while looking for Liz and trying to lose the bee.
You say "Alas, the bee is still buzzing round Daimon as he gets near the audience seats. Unless
he wants to try more vigorous swatting."
Daimon tries more vigorous _swearing_. :)
Zebina blinks at Daimon as he comes up. "Something wrong, Daimon?"
You say "Hm. Try an Emote roll, Daimon."
<
You say "Hitherby, Daimon presents such a strong and impressive body language and gesturing
and use of words that your animal behaviour causes the bee to retreat briefly. You lose him."
Hitherbee looks fairly scandalized.
Daimon sighs, and looks very guiltily at Liz.
Backstage, Hitherby hums happily to herself and retrieves the bee.
Daimon says "Er, bee. I couldn't shake it."
Liz says "A *bee*?"
Daimon nods. "Yep. It was attracted to my shampoo or something.
Sarah adjusts her glasses, blinking. She's in the seat beside Liz. "Oh, dear."
Backstage, Demiurge says "Okay. You're standing outside Props' door in your human host."
Daimon looks pretty guilty for making such a bad impression. "I'm sorry. It's been kind of a
crappy day."
Backstage, Hitherby waits until her bee makes it back, which oughtn't be too long if she allows
herself to fly at 4 Corp. Forces speeds, and then knocks.
Liz nods. "Sarah, this is Daimon. Daimon, my friend Sarah."
Daimon smiles at Sarah. "Hi Sarah."
Backstage, Demiurge says "Someone grunts from inside, "Come in!""
Liz says "Daimon does, um, stand up. Y'know, like comedy. Sarah is a rare book expert."
Sarah smiles back at Daimon. "Hello, Mr. Lightner. Liz has been telling me a bit about you."
Liz says "So are you allergic to bees or something, Daimon? Or insects?"
Daimon says "Wow, how cool."
Daimon says "Well, bees bug me, that's all."
Backstage, Hitherby opens the door, and slips in.
<
Liz says "Hmm. Kind of weird for a bee to be in the opera house. It's not even the right season
for them, is it?"
Daimon says "I think it followed me in through the back door."
You paged Liz with 'What was the roll?'.
Backstage, Hitherby waves thoughtfully out the door, while assessing the room. "What's a 'stand
up' doing here?" he wonders artlessly. "I didn't like his look."
Sarah suggests, half aside to Liz, "I think we're being practiced on."
Backstage, Demiurge says "There's an oldish man sitting behind a table, busy making notes. Piles
of interesting goods lying on the other tables of the room, flowers, stage knives, whatever."
Daimon says "So anyway, I made reservations for three at a resturant down the road called
Bianco's. Italian, right?"
Backstage, Demiurge says "The man frowns. "Stand up what? And I'm kind of busy, Nathan, so
make it quick, okay?""
Daimon jerks his thumb over my shoulder. "I've got a rental car parked in back."
Backstage, Hitherby says "Comedy, he said."
Liz whispers "Just to see if I remembered that Hitherby has an affection for bees."
Liz says "Sure."
Long distance to Liz: Demiurge nods.
Liz stands up.
Liz says "I think it'll be a good opera, but they look a little disorganized in spots. Hope they can
get it together before the opening."
Sarah straightens, playing Liz's beige shadow.
Backstage, Hitherby nods. Then I abandon the human and leap for the old man with 5 Forces free.
Backstage, Demiurge says "Will roll, please."
<
<
Backstage, Demiurge says "You don't make it. He resists."
Daimon nods, and leads the girls to his car. "So, have you guys been here long?"
Daimon says "I mean, waiting."
Backstage, Demiurge says "Though there's something odd about the resistance."
Backstage, Demiurge says "He felt .. tougher .. than you'd expect."
Liz looks back at Sarah. "Since, what, three thirty or so?
Backstage, Demiurge says "The older man stares at you. It's not a friendly stare."
Sarah agrees, "More or less."
Backstage, Hitherby jumps back to Nathan on her next action.
Daimon says "Wow, I'm sorry. I didn't know. I would have made earlier reservations."
Backstage, Hitherby says "(Or tries)"
<
Backstage, Demiurge says "You get back in."
Backstage, Demiurge says "He says, "What the hell was that.""
Daimon leads them through the opera house to his parked rent-a-wreck.
Sarah says "Oh, that's quite all right. The rehearsal was pleasant."
Liz looks around as she goes, seeing if anything else that's odd seems to be going on.
Backstage, Hitherby says, calmly, "You don't know? ..." As a separate statement, she adds,
"Heaven's greetings to you, sir."
Liz says "So what've you been doing all day, Daimon? Finish your business early?"
You say "The opera house seems quietly busy, humming with the rehearsal."
Daimon says "No, I'm not quite done. I did get some leads on things, though."
Backstage, Demiurge says "He begins to walk round the table towards you, eyes narrowing.
"You've never gone all religious on me before, Nathan.""
Backstage, Hitherby says "It's just a greeting, sir." The bee, meanwhile, uses the Song of Form.
And 2 extra Essence to make sure it goes through."
Sarah continues paying attention to Daimon, and doing rather a bit of smiling. "Not too terribly
dull business, I hope?"
<
Daimon says "Well, it has its interesting spots. Like I said, my day was bad, but some of the
moments were worth remembering."
Backstage, Hitherby says "OOC: Corporeal Form, of course, the protection one, since that's the
one I know. :) And since I can only use it on one host, I guess that's the bee."
Backstage, Demiurge says "Okay. Then the bee has it cast on it."
Backstage, Hitherby nods.
Liz looks disappointed. "No funny stories?"
Backstage, Demiurge says "The older man says, blandly, "I don't think you're feeling very well.""
Daimon ponders. "No, actually, it was mostly business. But I can think up some funny stories to
substitute for a disappointing reality, if you'd wish."
Daimon grins.
Sarah says "Such a pity."
Daimon shrugs. "Not everyday can be a riot, but some of the moments can usually be pretty
good."
Daimon figures they get out to the car pretty soon.
Demiurge nods. You get out to the car.
Liz says "Oh come on. Getting attacked by a bee in the opera must be worth something."
Backstage, Demiurge says "Hitherby, your bird notices them. Recognises Zebina."
You say "You three outside, make a Perception roll, please."
<
Daimon snickers. "Yeah, that's true."
<
Backstage, Hitherby says, "All pretense aside, sir?"
You say "Liz, you notice idly there are a lot of birds around on the roofs tonight. Daimon, you
notice with the clarity of paranoia that there is a whole mob of birds on the roof of a building over
there, and some of them seem to be watching the opera house."
Backstage, Demiurge says "He says, "Yeah. All pretence aside. You look ill. Want to go lie
down?""
Daimon stares at the roof with a proper look of paranoia and confusion.
Liz says "Something wrong Daimon?"
<
Sarah pages: Or not. :)
Daimon says "That roof is really weird."
You say "Sarah, gee, what a nice night it is."
Backstage, Hitherby points at the bee. "Do you see that bee, sir?"
Daimon points up at the birds. "Doesn't that strike you as bizarre?"
Backstage, Demiurge says "He squints up at it, then back at your human host. "Yeah. Look, shall
I go get you someone to help? You're looking pale." He moves towards the door."
Sarah looks where Daimon points. . o O ( What birds? )
Liz looks around. "Um. I don't know. Sure is a lot of birds, though."
Liz says "I don't recall that many birds from yesterday, but..."
Liz shrugs.
Daimon says "That's just really weird. They look like they're watching the opera house."
You say "If you all look where Daimon points, there are a _lot_ of birds on that roof over there."
Daimon giggles.
Liz says "Maybe they like opera?"
Liz grins. "Quoth the Raven, 'Figaro?'"
Daimon says "_Maybe_. This place is creeping me out."
Sarah leans her head back to look up at the birds. "It's not impossible, I suppose."
Sarah completely misses Liz's joke. Possibly fortunately for her.
Liz says "Yeah, between the screaming thing last night and the birds. Weird."
<
Sarah says "Screaming thing? Oh, dear."
Daimon says "This whole _Opera_ is creepy as hell."
Backstage, Demiurge says "Hitherby, suddenly you are hit by a Song of Entropy. Make an Int roll
to try and resist."
Backstage, Hitherby says "It is about to land on my shoulder, sir." Although in a different part of
the room at the time, it heads in that direction. "If you genuinely do not understand this, then I
will explain; however, I recommend you --" (rolling)"
<
Hitherby looks smug.
You say "Perception roll, please, everyone."
<
<
Sarah (Now that is just too close.)
Demiurge . o O ( just one digit )
Hitherby giggles to Sarah. You're as immune to the obvious as *I* usually am.
<
Sarah (I wear glasses for a reason, Dragonfly-hon. :) )
You say "Daimon: something just went *tinkle* in the Symphony back in the Opera House,
heaven knows what. Sarah: Duh? Liz: something medium-sized disturbanceish happened back at
the Opera House."
You paged Hitherby with 'You roll too, please. :)'.
<
Hitherby says "Ha."
Hitherby giggles.
Liz blinks.
Backstage, Demiurge says "Hitherby, you fail to notice the symphonic curdling round you, though
you do feel a bit headachy for a moment. You throw it off with an surge of will."
Liz immediately watches Daimon. :)
Sarah, being blind and deaf, stares at birds. :)
Backstage, Hitherby launches both hosts at Props. Her human host aims to pick him up bodily;
the bee to ram him. Preferably on the neck where it'll stop his voice for a moment.
Daimon blinks, and looks back at the Opera house.
Backstage, Hitherby can dismiss a random urge to do something strange, like the Geas; she
doesn't *get* headaches, though, for no reason. :)
Liz says "Did you just hear something?"
Liz says "Maybe it was the birds."
Daimon says "No, it was back in the Opera House."
Daimon says "I am getting a serious case of the creeps."
Backstage, Demiurge says "Okay. You're attacking. Make a couple of rolls, first for the human,
second for the bee."
Liz says "This is *really* starting to creep me out, yeah. Just like last night."
Liz . o O (Especially since I don't have my carry permit yet.)
Sarah looks at the two of them, one after the other. "I'm sure," she says mildly, "there's a perfectly
reasonable explanation."
Backstage, Hitherby says "Also, the birds will head for the main doors, willing to knock it down
if they have to."
Backstage, Hitherby says "Two of them, anyway."
<
<
Backstage, Hitherby wants reinforcements, bless it, even if they're *her* :)
Backstage, Demiurge says "The main doors? Or the nearest window to here?"
Daimon says "Yeah, like a haunting or something. I had that creepy guy accost me, and then the
birds, and now this."
Daimon looks a little shaken. "Maybe we should just go to dinner."
<
Backstage, Hitherby says "Whatever is closest *by my understanding of the layout*. That is,
probably actually the back door, since I'll know the way."
Backstage, Hitherby doesn't want to go in a window and get lost. :)
A few birds flutter down from the roof above, curling round towards the back side of the opera
house.
Backstage, Demiurge says "Okay. You manage to get a grab on him with your human host, and
your bee host collides with the side of his throat. He grunts, bringing up his hands defensively, his
mouth working."
Daimon says "Jesus, this is like a Hitchcock movie."
Sarah repeats, "Creepy guy?"
Liz says "Okay, between last night and this, I have got to know what's going on."
Backstage, Hitherby mulls. The next turn, I'll think of sending one down to shout, "Demon
inside!" at Zebira. I did recognize her, yes? (A bird, that is.)
Liz says "Wait, creepy guy?"
Liz says "Daimon, is there something you're not telling us?"
Daimon says "Yeah, didn't I mention him? I got accosted in the hallway right before I met you
guys by some guy who started accusing me of... stuff. Talk about weird."
Daimon says "I thought maybe they employ crazy people, or who knows where stagehands come
from."
<
Backstage, Hitherby isn't sure how many birds she was in, but was vaguely thinking that she
wasn't using all of them on the doors.
Backstage, Demiurge says "Okay. (Yes, you recognised Zebina.) Now make an Int roll yourself,
you're under assault again. :)"
<
Backstage, Hitherby has no idea if she has to beat the check digit or just make the roll.
Backstage, Demiurge says "Unfortunately, you've just been hit by a Song of Ethereal Entropy."
Sarah says "I suppose there's no law against hiring conspiracy theorists."
Backstage, Demiurge says "Screaming nightmares rush into your mind, writhing tentacles and
endless mouths and slimy organs, the hideousness of one of your Fallen kin, the Shedim."
Daimon . o 0 ( Whatever is happening, it's getting _out of hand_.)
Backstage, Hitherby says "So I have to beat the check digit? Darn."
Backstage, Demiurge says "That hurt your mind. That definitely hurt. You don't want another
blow like that."
Daimon says "No, I suppose not."
Backstage, Demiurge says "The guy's beginning to squirm free again."
You say "Perception roll again, guys."
<
<
You say "Sarah: duh? Liz: duh?"
Backstage, Hitherby does not! But it would be just *rude* to abandon two hosts in a room with
an angry demon. I slug him and whirl the bee in for another attack. Meanwhile, the two birds
continue towards or through the door, and one heads down towards the group at the car to
scream, "Demon inside!"
<
Backstage, Hitherby says "The birds might take a while, all in all. I understand and accept this :)"
Backstage, Hitherby mulls. Did I notice any windows in the room earlier?
Backstage, Hitherby may Corp. Motion out if she doesn't stun him and he hits her again like that.
Backstage, Hitherby says "But not if I'm just totally indoors."
You say "Daimon: Gee, someone just used a Song, inside the Opera House. Somewhere in the
backstage area."
Backstage, Demiurge says "There aren't any windows in this particular room."
Daimon looks at the girls. "Can you guys wait here for a second?"
A bird hurtling down towards the group by the car screams something that sounds rather like,
"DEMON INSIDE!"
Liz blinks.
Daimon looks, and blinks, startled.
Demiurge says "Okay. Roll for your attempt to hit him."
Liz looks up at the bird, then at Daimon. "Um, no, I don't think we can."
<
<
Liz looks back at Sarah. "Sarah?"
Daimon says "Me neither. I just _want_ to get out of here _now_."
Hitherby says "Human and bee."
<
Sarah glances back at Liz. "I think you're quite right."
Demiurge says "Your bee scores a neat wallop, your human host goes in for an uncoordinated
stumble."
Hitherby *knew* she shouldn't have used a human host. :)
Liz says "I am finding out what the heck is going on here. Right now."
Demiurge says "The older man staggers for the door, turning back at you to gesture, his eyes full
of sheer hate and gesture oozing and unpleasant."
<
Demiurge says "One last roll. ;)"
Demiurge says "That is, please roll."
Daimon looks at Liz.
<
Liz begins striding purposefully back towards the opera house at a not-quite-jog.
Daimon follows Liz.
Sarah follows, with Daimon.
Liz whispers "And keeping in mind Song of Shields. ^_^"
Daimon says "Um, I think you should head to the backstage area. It's just a hunch."
Liz says "Right."
Liz heads backstage.
Daimon follows Liz.
Demiurge says "Okay. Hitherby, you feel the horrid pressure at your mind again, but manage to
shrug it off."
Demiurge says "However, the other guy manages to shove through the door, staggering down
the corridor."
Sarah follows, with Daimon. (Anyone see a pattern forming?)
Daimon does! Daimon does!
The bird that passed near the group loops around to follow Liz and the others, muttering in the
appropriate tone for obscenities.
Daimon looks up at the bird, and looks pretty bothered.
Daimon resonates on the bird.
You say "You three (plus bird) shoulder past the stage doorkeeper."
You paged Daimon with 'roll?'.
<
You say "Wow."
You say "Daimon, you have a very clear reading on the current needs of the bird. Strangely, it
feels much like that raven you resonated the other day."
Daimon says, "Oh my god."
You say "It wants to deal with the demon it's currently fighting, to protect its hosts, to protect
the nearby parks, and to get Zebina to help it, and to find out what's going on."
You say "(correct me if I'm wrong, Hitherby)"
Hitherby says "That's about right. :)"
Liz whispers "So, would now be a good time to mention that I brought my gun, even without the
permit?"
Daimon starts moving _very quickly_ to where the song came from.
You paged Liz with 'Sure. :)'.
Liz says "Oh...blockade..."
Demiurge says "Hitherby, what are you doing? Pursuing?"
Liz starts moving after Daimon, even more quickly. Ofanite quickly.
Sarah, having no clue about the songs, is simply trying to keep tabs on Daimon. :)
Hitherby, in an excess of foolish bravery, abandons the human to free up Forces, and as many
other hosts as she can safely abandon, hoping to get 7 free. The last action with the human action
is to try and possess him again before he gets away; the bee is following.
Demiurge says "Okay. Roll."
Daimon figures they get there pretty damn fast.
You say "Hold just half a second. Sure, you get there fast."
Hitherby says "And attacking again, if it can. Figuring that if I can't, he can't, and that's just peachy
:)"
<
<
Hitherby says "Wow. He almost invoked God there :)"
Demiurge says "Definite block. :) Sorry about that. You can try and hit him again with the bee,
if you want. (Heh.)"
Hitherby nods!
<
Demiurge says "Alas."
Hitherby says "Definite alas."
You say "Okay. What you see."
You say "Daimon and Zebina arriving approx the same time, with Sarah closely behind. (Hold
while I describe.)"
Hitherby says "The bird will get ahead of the group to lead them the right way if it can. If it can't,
heck, there's an Ofanite; it probably knows the way or something."
Hitherby guesses it can't and doesn't need to :)
You say "You see this oldish, fattish man (who Daimon recognises as Props) stumbling into the
arms of several actors who have come running at the disturbance."
You say "He has several obvious bruises on him from recent blows. He's pointing back at his
room, up the corridor, and babbling that Nathan must have gone crazy, trying to beat him up."
You say "(Oh, and there's a bee buzzing around the place angrily.)"
Daimon says "Fuck.""
Daimon hands himself, mentally, the Dumb Shit award for the week.
You say "From the doorway to Props' room comes a thin blond man, stumbling, his hand to his
head. He mutters, "Who put something in my bloody drink! I swear to God, last minute I was in
the green room..." He's staggering."
Hitherby assumes the bird didn't get there yet?
Hitherby says "(Just checking.)"
Liz cups her hand behind her back, out of the sight of Daimon, making a suitable place for a bee
to land.
Demiurge says "The bird's just behind the other three."
Liz would resonate on Props, but it's not like she's planning on shipping him to Sri Lanka.
Sarah does a lot of blinking and looking around distressedly.
Hitherby's bird screams bloody murder in Props' direction, hanging in the air. The bee wanders
towards the offered hand.
Sarah returns to trying to look distressed and helpless and keeping at least one eye on Daimon.
Daimon is pretty sure exactly what is going on now.
Liz isn't, but that's what Daimon's for.
Liz keeps her hand proffered.
Daimon puts a hand on Liz's arm.
You say "A couple of the gathering crowd go to try and help the blond man who's looking totally
confused. The others form up round Props, to escort him off for a doctor to look at."
Liz looks over. "Daimon?"
Daimon starts to giggle.
Liz blinks, crosseyed. "What?"
Hitherby's bird flutters back towards the door, looking peevish.
Daimon starts to laugh a little louder.
Sarah says "Do you think he's all right?"
Liz says "I think he's hysterical."
Daimon shakes his head. "I'm not hysterical. It's just very very funny."
Liz waits for the bee to land, then slips it into her pocket where it can curl up somewhere that
won't be crushed.
From afar, to Demiurge and Hitherby, Liz has a gun in a holster in the pocket, which should
protect a bee nicely from getting squashed.
Daimon laughs a little more.
Liz sighs.
You say "Props is helped away. Several of the actors doing the helping give your group - with
bird - odd looks."
Hitherby blinks. Damn. Are the men and Props still in sight?
Liz takes Daimon by the arm. "C'mon, Sarah. Get his other arm, and let's go get some food."
Daimon pulls himself together, and wipes a hand over his face. "Okay, nothing to see here folks,
let's move along."
Daimon giggles some more.
Demiurge says "Heading off down the corridor."
Hitherby is being *stupid*. She can't be detected if she leaps into one of them and makes
sympathetic noises, can she? I mean, unless he has some unusual Attunement?
Demiurge says "Shouldn't be detectable, no."
Sarah shakes her head, and takes Daimon's other arm, with a worried glance after Props and
another after the blond man.
Hitherby just wants to know where he goes. Bird glances back to do this thing, then. Should I
roll?
Daimon goes willingly with the girls.
Demiurge says "Please."
<
<
Demiurge says "You manage to jump into one of the group escorting Props."
Hitherby helps him along courteously, mimicking the behavior of these others as best as she can.
<
Demiurge nods. He's being led downstairs to the small office of the on-site theatre doctor.
Liz asks, as they get back close to the car, "Daimon, you okay to drive?"
Hitherby beams brightly.
Daimon nods. "I'm sure."
Liz says "Sarah, would you like front?"
Hitherby gets her bird back to the roof to watch if he should leave, and drifts away innocuously
as soon as people start doing this (i.e. after Props is delivered to the doctor.)
Demiurge nods.
Sarah looks somewhat less sure, from the glance she gives him. "If you're positive," she says,
dubious. Then, to Liz, "I'll yield that pleasure, if I may."
Hitherby sees no reason to be caught, however, and so won't leave the young man until her clock
runs out or she needs the Forces.
Demiurge says "So you're just hanging around the theatre at the moment? Plus bird and bee?"
Liz grins, then checks for airbags.
Daimon climbs happily into the car.
Liz sits in the passenger seat.
Hitherby nods. In some out-of-the-way place, probably. That leaves me with plenty of Forces for
a few birds, and bee, and that's it. I *should* get back to watching things, but my hackles are up.
Jordi's eyes, we are, and I think they're focused on the Opera.
Sarah seats herself in back, legs curled appropriately, and takes her glasses off and folds them
neatly and holds them between her hands and her lap.
Sarah somehow does not look entirely thrilled by the prospect of a possibly-hysterical Daimon
driving. :)
Demiurge nods.
Daimon drives to the place in a very amusing and occasionally outright funny matter.
Liz mostly thinks about better ways he could have gotten there.
Daimon thinks he could have driven in a more amusing way, but he didn't cut that old lady off fast
enough.
The restaurant is busy, cheerful, and looks good. A waiter shows your party to your table.
Daimon checks out the wine menu.
Sarah looks somewhat less strained once she's out of the car and her glasses are back on.
You say "The wine menu is wide and excellent."
You say "If expensive."
Liz waits until we're actually seated, the wine is ordered, and preferably appetizers are on the way
before asking, almost sweetly, "Daimon, just what the Hell was going on back there, and why was
it so funny?" Her accent seems to have gotten somewhat thicker, too.
Daimon says "Oh, I just figured out what was going on, and realized something I did earlier, and
how ironic it all was."
Hitherby carefully climbs out of the pocket, but only onto Liz's leg -- why show herself when she
can't speak?
Sarah asks quite mildly, "Ironic? How so, pray tell?"
Liz says "And, as long as you're at it, what -was- going on?"
Daimon gets a big wide grin, and says, "Spirits!"
Sarah gives Daimon the particular look of skepticism that only librarians and schoolteachers ever
seem to be able to master. "Spirits."
Daimon laughs out loud, and takes a sip of his wine. "Sure, spirits. I think that Opera has it's
collection of haunts and... supernatural beings. Am I crazy? Probably. Superstitious? Definitely.
Is it funny? YES!"
Liz raises an eyebrow. "Flocks of birds verus the Demon of the Opera?"
Daimon waves a hand. "I think they just had a fight inside, and it got out of hand. You know, a
couple of stagehands."
Liz says "And the birds and all the weird noises?"
Sarah says "And the odd man you were mentioning?"
Daimon shrugs. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
Liz looks over at Sarah. "Try us?"
Liz says "Daimon, I've been all over the world. I've seen a lot of weird things. Don't be so quick
to think I might not believe."
Daimon says "Well, there's a simple yet stupid explaination, and a complex yet scientific sounding
explaination. The complex one is that there was a fight, someone put out too much crumbs up on
the roof and the noises were caused by people working to put up the Opera set for tomorrow
night."
Sarah folds her hands lightly, listening to Daimon. "And the simple yet stupid one?"
Daimon says "Ths simple yet stupid one is that the Opera house has picked up a... celestial spirit,
like a poltergeist, that can posses several people and things at the same time."
Daimon says "I saw it on Sightings."
Hitherby thinks. . o O ( If the old man were Game, and this guy was Game, then he would have
come to help instead of going outside. If the old man was a demon, and this guy was an angel or
the Game, the old man would have been attacked. If the old man was Game, and this guy was a
demon, then why would he have sought the old guy out? Conclusion: this guy is not a celestial.
However, why did the old guy not admit to talking to him? )
Demiurge laughs.
Liz looks over at Sarah, shrugs a bit.
Daimon says "So that's the simple and the complex explainatiosn."
Sarah shrugs back at Liz. "There are stranger things on television."
Liz says "Okay. So, assuming that there's a spirit there, and it's doing... things. Is it safe to go to
the opening? Can anything be done about it?"
Daimon says "I think it's pretty positive toward people, just not toward the main props guy."
Daimon says "And something could probably be done about it, but I expect it's fairly harmless,
if not a little annoying and probably a bit into the pranking thing."
Liz says "Something can be done? What?"
Daimon grins. "An exorcism?"
Liz smiles. "I hadn't realized you were an expert on the occult."
Daimon says "Oh, I'm not. I read a bunch of junk, and I watch way too much TV."
Liz says "So, an anonymous call to the business manager, and tell him to get a Priest for opening
night?"
Hitherby mutters quietly in a bee's very very tiny Horton-hears-a-Who voice about TV.
Daimon shakes his head. "A priest won't do it."
Liz says "No? What would?"
Daimon . o 0 (A Calabite hit squad, on the other hand... )
Daimon says "Dunno, actually. Ask it to go away, or to leave the performance alone?"
Liz sighs.
Daimon . o 0 (How DO you get rid of a Kyrio?)
Liz says "Okay, right. After dinner we all troop back to the opera house, bring along dessert, and
say 'nice spirit, be good to the actors'?"
Daimon grins. "I think _that_ particular spirit, the one in the birds, is harmless. Mostly."
Liz says "Oh."
Daimon sips his wine. "Unless your friend the rare book collector has some tomes on Exorcism."
Liz smiles. "Do you, Sarah?"
Liz fidgets a little, straightening her place setting, then neatening the salt and pepper and sugar
containers, and maybe even rearranging the inevitable flower arrangement in the middle of the
table.
Daimon laughs, and shakes his head.
Liz hmms, and breaks off one of the flowers, giving it a little asymmetry.
Liz says "That looks better."
From afar, to Demiurge and Hitherby, Liz sets the flower down on her leg, near Hitherby's bee.
Daimon watches Liz with interest. Then he leans over, picks up the salt shaker, and casually
shakes a little salt onto the flowers.
Liz giggles.
Daimon wiggles his eyebrows. He puts down the salt shaker. Daimon leans forward and breaks
off one of the flowers. And then, with his eyes never leaving Liz's, he very casually eats it.
Demiurge snickers.
From afar, to Demiurge and Liz, Hitherby gives a little bee-sigh and climbs into the flower. At
least, eating will distract her from people talking about *exorcising* her.
Liz laughs. "Daimon!" She sounds faintly scandalized.
Daimon says "Okay, top that."
Daimon gives Liz a 'I dare you to do something worse' look.
Sarah glances up from considering something. "I'm afraid I don't know of any reliable sources on
ex-- Liz, your friend is very odd."
Daimon says "Thank you."
Liz says "He's a comedian."
Daimon says "It's how I make my money."
Liz looks back at Daimon. "Mmmhmm. So ever done any comedy exorcism?"
Daimon says "No, but I can stand on one foot and rub my tummy at the same time."
Sarah says "Yes, well. I hadn't known that comedians were also," she glances at the flowers,
"related to sheep, particularly."
Daimon says "Baaaaaa."
Daimon leans over, and with great casualty, takes another flower. He dunks it into his wine,
scoops up some sauce on his plate with it, and with great seriousness and much chewing, eats it.
Liz glances at the table, wondering what, if anything, she can throw.
Daimon says "The napkin is always good for that use."
Sarah turns her head away, politely.
Daimon says "Here, I'll demonstrate."
Daimon picks up his napkin and balls it up in his hand.
Liz says "Daimon..."
Daimon grins. "Okay, okay, I'm getting childish.
Daimon takes another sip of wine.
Liz says "Yes and I really don't want a food fight."
Daimon says "Probably a good plan."
Liz sighs. "So, the theatre had a spirit, which doesn't like one of the stagehands. Terrific."
Daimon says "Well, the head stage hand, to be specific."
Liz says "You know him?"
Daimon says "No, I just ran into him."
Liz says "Oh."
Liz blinks. "Before or after the strange guy who accosted you?"
Daimon nods. "Right after."
Daimon says "And then I was duly attacked by the bee."
Liz smiles. "Maybe it doesn't like you either."
Daimon says "I doubt it."
Daimon shrugs.
Liz says "True. You're a pretty likeable guy."
Sarah hides a smile, not terribly successfully.
Daimon says "Hey, thanks. You're not so bad yourself."
Liz dimples.
Daimon melts... a bit.
Liz says "So, um..."
Daimon says "Uh... anyway...""
Daimon looks at Sarah, and flashes her a 'well, this is awkward' grin.
Liz giggles.
Daimon laughs.
Daimon drinks a little more wine.
Liz says "So... the bird was... shouting? about a 'Demon'."
Daimon says "I thought I heard that too. Pretty bizarre. I mean, demons?"
Sarah observes, "If I'm interrupting the mutual admiration society, I can leave early. Still, there
was the bird, yes."
Daimon says "How last year."
Liz says "I thought angels were last year."
Liz says "Maybe demons are this year?"
Daimon says "Maybe demons are very chic this year."
Daimon says "Evil is in, good is out."
Liz says "God, I hope not."
Sarah says "Momentarily at worst, I'm sure."
Daimon laughs out loud. "Hey, don't you follow politics?"
Daimon says "Maybe insanity is _in_ this year."
Sarah murmurs, "In which case, _Daimon_ may be very chic."
Liz blinks over at Sarah.
Daimon grins a definitely lunatic grin at Sarah.
Sarah says "Insanity, dear. Don't let it worry you."
Liz says "I'll try not to."
Liz sticks her tongue out at Daimon.
Daimon laughs. "Hey, just because I have voices in my head. Is that bad?"
Daimon . o 0 ( She's gorgeous.)
Liz says "Depends. Do they tell you to do bad things?"
Daimon says "Only when they get _angry_."
Daimon . o 0 (Damn shame she's human.)
Sarah says "Ah. No wonder you're an expert in spirits. Being haunted yourself, and all."
Daimon says "I am kidding, you know."
Liz says "Suuure you are, mister big-shot comedian."
Daimon says "Okay, maybe I'm a _little_ insane. But not in a bad way."
Daimon says "More in an overly active imagination way."
Liz says "Well, your imagination seems to be getting out a lot. Unless it was the spirit doing the
howling last night. And I do -not- think a benevolent little bird spirit howls like that."
Liz gives a little shudder.
Daimon loses his grin. "Whatever it was, it was unpleasant. Really nasty. I'm almost inclined to
go with your outlandish demon theory."
Liz says "What, that there's a bird spirit, *and* a demon?"
Liz says "Oh great. No doubt they're fighting over the opera. They should make an opera out of
-that-."
Daimon says "Hey, I'm no expert in these things."
Sarah says "I wonder what in the world could be so important about an opera as to attract all of
this hypothetical attention."
Daimon furrows his brow. "This is what I've been trying to get to all day. I know the _superficial_
reasons for it, but not the real reasons."
Liz blinks. "What? Your work is investigating the spirit?"
Daimon blinks. "No, of course not."
Liz stops looking startled.
Liz says "Oh."
Daimon says "I just came to find two guys sent out here by mistake, that's all."
Liz says "Oh, okay. And what were they sent out here to do, anyways?"
Liz looks at Daimon, those blazing green eyes full of undisguised curiosity.
Daimon says "They weren't sent. They sort of went on their own initiative."
Liz says "Go on..."
Daimon says "Uh... they just took advantage of the Org's resources, that's all. I found 'em. That's
pretty much it."
Sarah says "The Org?"
Daimon says "The Organization. The Union we all work for, out in Los Angeles. You know,
performers are always unionized."
Hitherby . o O ( Could this be that Dot Org thing Sephar is always talking about? )
Sarah smiles. "Oh, I see. For a moment you made it sound almost ominous. Perhaps it's just all
this spirit nonsense, spilling over."
Daimon says "That's got to be it."
Liz blinks. "Uh huh."
Daimon looks a little uncomfortable.
Liz still looks intently curious. "And they sent a top ranked stand up comic to deal with these
guys?"
Daimon says "Uh, yeah. Weird, eh?"
Liz says "Intensely."
Sarah nods to Liz.
Daimon just stares right back at Liz. "Is there something you're insinuating?"
Liz reaches over the table and lightly squeezes Daimon's nose. "Daimon Lightner, if you are
funning Sarah and me about all of this, I am going to parcel post you to Guatemala and personally
deliver the package out the door of the plane at twenty thousand feet."
Daimon looks a little more relieved, and leans back in his chair. "Yeah, well, maybe I'm making
some of it up."
Daimon pages: I resonate on Liz.
Liz says "The demon and the spirit parts I hope."
You paged Daimon with 'Roll. :)'.
Daimon gives a little laugh. "Sure. I'm making it up."
<
You paged Liz and Daimon with 'Liz, your minor level 2 Needs for Daimon, please. :)'.
Liz wants to know why Daimon is -really- here, what parts he's making up, and if this is part of
his way of coming on to her. Oh, yeah, if it is, it just might be working, regardless of whether or
not it's true.
Daimon gets this half relieved, half goofy look on his face, and sips a little more wine.
Liz says "So, um... you found the guys, right?"
Daimon says "Yeah, I found them. And sure enough, they were hiding out."
Liz sips her wine and almost idly dips a slice of bread into olive oil, and munches.
Daimon says "If things go well, we'll be going home in a few days."
Liz says "Did you get back the, um.. resources?"
Sarah frowns slightly, not particularly subtle about it. "What in the world were they hiding out
from?"
Hitherby thinks. We have the Ofanite, the Cherub, and the Kyriotate here. The *perfect* set for
an interrogation. *rolls her eyes*.
Daimon says "Well, I found them. And they were just being coy, that's all."
Liz looks around, wondering where dinner is supposed to be.
Dinner is brought across. There is pasta.
Daimon pages: I resonate on Sarah, just for the hell of it.
Daimon eats with a relish.
Liz yums.
Liz lets Sarah do the questioning. She eats.
Liz had something with pesto on it.
You paged Daimon with 'Okay, hellish one. Roll.'.
Sarah (gee, thanks, Liz :) )
Hitherby . o O ( Hopefully not *pickle* relish. )
<
Daimon decides that he's falling into serious Like with Liz.
You paged Daimon with 'Fail, alas.'.
Sarah muses aloud, "Coy about what, I wonder," and nibbles.
Daimon mumbles through pasta, "Stuff".
Liz drizzles a little more olive oil onto a piece of bread, and happily munches.
Daimon does the same, because it seems like a good idea.
Sarah glances at Daimon. "Stuff."
Daimon says "Yup. Definitely stuff."
Liz says "Now you're being coy, Daimon. Is this some big comedian union secret or something?"
Liz says "I thought the magicians were the ones who had the secrets."
Daimon says "Maybe I'm just playing hard to get."
Liz sticks her tongue out again. "I thought that was my job, mister bigshot celebrity."
Daimon says "As long as I know there is playing involved, then I'm happy."
Sarah says "I think he likes getting you to do that entirely too much, Liz."
Sarah smiles.
Liz blushes.
Liz says "Maybe I should stop it then."
Daimon waves a hand. "No no, I think you should just keep going the way you are now."
Liz hmmphs.
Sarah turns her smile to Daimon. "Well, of course you would."
Daimon says "Hey, I'm at dinner with two beautiful women. I'm not supposed to say flattering
things?"
Hitherby mulls.
Sarah says "I suppose we can endure."
Daimon says "I hope so, or all the fun will go right out of dinner."
Sarah says "I don't think _that's_ meant to happen."
Demiurge says "Is Hitherby getting bored by all this human behaviour?"
Daimon says "I should hope not. What's life without a little bit of humor?"
Hitherby is, a bit :)
Hitherby is thinking about whether it's too human to verify that Props is still with the doc and
ransack his office if so :)
Demiurge says "Do not let me restrain you from acting out your animal impulses. Hm."
Liz says "Mmm, quieter?"
Demiurge says "Up to you."
Daimon says "Far more boring."
Daimon . o 0 (My GOD she's beautiful. *sigh* )
Daimon does not drool all over his food.
Hitherby nods thoughtfully. She will, at the least, prowl down to check on Props' location. Er,
that is, 'see if he's all right.'
Liz uses an almost uncanny dexterity to avoid making a mess with her noodles.
Demiurge says "Props is in his room, and has one of the stagehands hanging round to keep an eye
on the poor assaulted guy."
Daimon on the other hand, does not have such dexterity, and eating the noodles is a painful, yet
humorous process.
Sarah says "I've heard some people appreciate dull lives now and then. Not tonight, though."
Daimon says "Not me, not ever. No offense, but I try to get the best out of life."
Liz says "God, not tonight, no."
Liz smiles at Daimon. "Does 'getting the best out of life' include taking us to dinner?"
Daimon says "Definitely."
Hitherby frowns and prowls away again. In his office. Mmrph. This absolutely in no way prevents
me from getting to him, but my allies left and are flirting with some Soldier of Hell.
Hitherby starts scouting the Opera House. She ought at least to know the territory.
Liz turns to Sarah and smiles. "See? And he's smart, too."
Demiurge says "Sure."
Daimon says "I know stuff."
Sarah says "There's that word again."
Daimon says "It's a very important word."
Daimon says "Can you imagine _being_ that word? 'Hi! I'm STUFF!"
Daimon says "That would outright rock."
Daimon considers this for a moment.
Liz blinks. "I don't know. Sounds kind of messy."
Daimon says "Chaotic, yet fun! There is always stuff around."
Demiurge says "The rehearsal is winding down. People are taking notes and being told what they
did wrong. Other people are going home."
Liz says "What if it's the wrong stuff?"
Sarah says mildly to Liz, "I think you should worry about him."
Daimon says "Well, it's okay if it's the wrong stuff. Because you have plenty of the right stuff to
cancel it out."
Daimon says in lofty tones, "It's all subjective."
Daimon punctuates his point with a noodle. Which he eats.
Liz says back to Sarah, "I dunno. It's sort of cute, in a psychopathic way. Or maybe he's practicing
an act."
Daimon says "Or maybe I'm a psychopath."
Liz says "Or a comedian."
Daimon says "Maybe I murder raw eggs for my breakfast."
Daimon says "Maybe I'm just a funny kind of guy."
Sarah says "Maybe he's a psychopathic comedian. There must be a few of them around."
Daimon laughs evilly.
Liz nods to Sarah. "Seems likely."
Daimon laughs evilly again.
Hitherby nods.
Liz says "Eat your bread, Daimon. I think the waiters are getting nervous."
Daimon dutifully eats the bread, but he's laughing, and has to prevent bread chunks from being
nasally intrusive. He tries to block this with the wine, but it doesn't help much.
Hitherby grumbles. He's a demon, though; he might not leave.
Sarah supplies Daimon with her napkin. "Oh, dear."
Liz shakes her head. "We can't take you anywhere, can we Daimon?"
Daimon uses the napkin, swallows, and just cracks up.
Daimon wipes his mouth off, and happily hands the used napkin back with a smile.
Hitherby is a Kyriotate of Jordi. It is very clear how she is expected to solve this problem, if her
allies prefer to babble with a chimp. It's night. What season is this? Are there mosquitos out?
(Usually Spring and Summer for them. If it's December, then hm.)
Daimon says "I'm a funny guy. What can I say? Except, maybe OOP."
Hitherby says "Er, January."
Hitherby waves her hands around. Lots of them. :)
Liz looks at Sarah. "Do you think it would be rude to go off and leave him cackling at the staff?"
Daimon says "Oh, come on. I'll be good. I swear."
Demiurge says "It's autumn. There are mosquitoes available."
Liz says "Hmm. Okay."
Sarah allows the used napkin to keep its residence in Daimon's hand. "I don't think it would be
rude, no. Though we might want to offer him mercy and see if he keeps his word."
Liz says "If you're very good, we'll be nice, and stay, and let you pay for dinner. If you're not
good, we'll go, and let you argue with the staff over who should pay for dinner. Deal?"
Daimon eyes Sarah. "Okay, fine." He places his hand across his heart in a big dramatic gesture.
"I swear on my nature, for the rest of the night, I'll be _good_. Mostly."
Liz says "Hmm."
Daimon pauses. And then says, "And I'll be happy to pay for dinner. American Express, don't
leave home without it."
Liz says "Sarah, where does 'mostly' leave us?"
Hitherby can take over 15 swarms of mosquitoes and keep the human and the bee. She begins the
process of doing so.
Long distance to Daimon: Demiurge hehs. Geas!
Daimon says "Okay okay okay! I swear on my nature, for the rest of the night, I'll be a perfect
ang- I'll be good.""
Demiurge nods.
Daimon pages: Sure.
Daimon pages: But she's soooooooo good looking.
Sarah says "I think it leaves us at an improvement."
Hitherby grumps. No. Attacking him in 15 hosts is too *sick*. Pend that.
Sarah almost beams at Daimon.
Sarah says "It's such an easy habit to get into, too."
Demiurge says "Sure."
Liz smiles. "Oh good."
Daimon sulks a little bit, and finishes his dinner. "Good is subjective, you know. I might be good
and tasty."
Liz gives Daimon an absolutely dazzling smile.
Daimon melts.
Daimon sighs.
Daimon mutters, "I might be good and crunchy. I might even be good and _bad_."
Liz laughs. "With your personality? Seems fairly inevitable."
Sarah says "That's all right, dear. I'm sure Liz can take care of you."
Daimon says "Cool. I'm all for that."
Hitherby grumbles.
Hitherby flutters up to the vase of flowers, unaware that they are horribly salty and two of them
have been eaten.
Liz blushes again, and then hisses over at her friend, "Sarah!"
Daimon says "I might even be good in other areas. You'll just have to find out."
Liz blushes even more.
Daimon says "But I think I'm stuck just not being a jerk."
Hitherby prepares the mosquitos anyway, in case he walks out alone to his car -- it's just too good
to resist. But she won't open doors for them.
Liz says, by way of distracting Daimon, "Oh look, your friend from the opera house seems to have
followed us."
Demiurge says "Props is showing no sign of leaving the opera house, as yet."
Hitherby wrinkles her tiny nose at the salt.
Hitherby suspects he won't.
Daimon says "Oh great. Back we are to the bees."
Liz says "And the birds."
Daimon scoots back away from the table.
Liz suddenly blushes a deep, deep shade of rose.
Daimon laughs out loud. "It was unintentional."
Liz says "Suure it was."
Hitherby takes her human host out to the parking lot so she can drop him off and he'll think he
was going home.
Sarah glances at Liz, relatively blankly.
Daimon says "I _am_, after all, being good. Maybe the bee planned it."
Liz says "You're just taking advantage of my naturally angelic nature."
Demiurge nods. You do so. He's a bit confused, but heads off home.
Daimon blinks. "Hardly."
Sarah murmurs, "Of course not. How could you ever believe such a thing of him."
Daimon scoots back up to the table, and takes a long look at the bee.
Hitherby looks back into Daimon's eye.
Daimon pages: Sure, I'll resonate on it.
Long distance to Daimon: Demiurge rolls her eyes. :) Do so.
<
Liz says "Daimon, I hate to point this out and all, but you're in a staring contest with an insect."
Daimon says "Hush for a sec."
Liz says "Daimon. They Don't Have Eyelids."
You paged Daimon and Hitherby with 'What a _coincidence_, it has the same Needs as those two
previous birds!'.
Daimon frowns in a big way.
Daimon pulls his eyes away from the bee and back at Liz.
Liz says "Now what. Don't tell me our friend from the opera house followed along?"
Daimon says "I'm not crazy."
Sarah says "No?"
Daimon says "Not right now, no."
Hitherby pages to Demiurge and Daimon: Well, modified slightly for the fact that I'm no longer
in a fight, and am feeling peevish about nothing happening. :)
Daimon says "What I want to know is what did I ever do to it? Oh, I know. Forget it."
Hitherby buzzes amicably.
Liz says "Hmm?"
Liz says "You've met this bee before?"
Daimon sighs heavily. "I'm getting all worked up over a bee."
Hitherby flutters up and endeavors to land on Daimon's nose.
Liz dumps a bunch of sugar into her water glass and stirs it around.
The waiter comes to collect the dirty dishes, and take orders for dessert.
Daimon doesn't swat it off, but he does get annoyed.
Liz dips her finger into her glass, and holds up her finger. "Nice bee. Come to Liz."
Daimon says "You realize that if you sting me, you die. You leave your ass behind with the
stinger. Just so you know."
Sarah says "Ah, Mr. Lightner. I don't believe most bees are conversant with English."
Daimon gets a weird grin. "Not most."
Liz waggles her finger, which is covered with sugarwater.
Hitherby crawls carefully up Daimon's nose towards that spot on the forehead where they always
put jewels in aliens' heads on TV.
Liz says "Congrats, Daimon, this is definitely the oddest dinner I've ever had."
Daimon says "Thank you. Thank you very much."
Daimon feels around for his napkin without moving much. Once he has it, he's going to reach up
with it on his hand and attempt to dislodge the bee from his forehead.
Daimon says "Look I'm not going to hurt you, that's not my style, but you gotta get off of me."
Liz waggles her finger s'more. "C'mon little bee, c'mere."
Sarah offers helpfully, "I believe it's likelier not to bother you if you're still enough to let it think
you're some sort of odd, uninteresting rock."
Daimon says "Odd yes. Uninteresting, never."
Hitherby taps Daimon's head thoughtfully with a foot. It's actually hard enough to feel, though
not to hurt. Then she flies to the sugarwater finger.
Daimon sighs.
Sarah says "There you are."
Daimon peers at the bee.
Daimon says "Weird."
Daimon says "I want to know how it followed me here."
Hitherby buzzes softly.
Liz thinks to herself that a Seraph would have to admit the veracity of her earlier comment about
it being an odd dinner.
Liz says "Maybe it hitched a ride on one of us?"
Daimon says "Possibly."
Liz adds a couple of more droplets of sugarwater to her fingertip.
Sarah suggests mildly, "Perhaps it's a different bee."
Daimon says "Oh, fine, be logical."
Hitherby takes over a man at a nearby table, preferably alone, if it can.
Liz laughs. "But Sarah, that wouldn't be any fun, would it?"
Hitherby only has 16 bugs, so should be no problem. :)
Demiurge says "Sure."
Sarah says "Well, then we could speculate as to why the entire species is attracted to Mr. Lightner
here, and make, no doubt, repeated jokes involving nectar."
Hitherby signals a waiter.
Demiurge says "The waiter comes across."
Daimon says "Daimon. You can call me Daimon."
Daimon wiggles his eyebrows when thinking about some rather risque jokes about nectar, and
realizes he can't tell them because he's being 'good'.
Liz laughs.
Liz thinks Sarah 1, Daimon 0
Sarah says "Daimon, then. All right."
Daimon thinks many rather mean things about geasing oneself into being an idiot.
Daimon says "So, well, uh..."
Liz says "Mmmyes?"
Daimon says "Dunno. My brain just emptied of all coherent thought."
Hitherby says, to the waiter, "I'd like to order the dessert of her choice for the lady at that table,"
and he indicates the table with the three, specifically Liz. "Could you take care of that for me?"
Liz smiles.
The waiter says "Certainly, sir."
Daimon says "Which probably makes the world temporarily safe."
Liz spills some of the sugar water onto her bread plate and arranges a little oasis for Hitherby.
Liz says "Well, thank God for that."
Daimon raises his eyebrows. "Maybe.
You say "A waiter who has been talking to a man at a nearby table comes across, and nods
politely to Liz. "Compliments of that gentleman over there, madam, and he'd like you to order the
dessert of your choice. To go on his bill.""
Hitherby flutters down into the sugar water.
Daimon looks over at the gentleman.
Sarah glances over at the gentleman, also.
He looks like a perfectly bland, normal person. He's dining alone.
Daimon resonates on him.
<
You paged Daimon and Hitherby with 'Guess which Needs? Yup.'.
Daimon says outloud, "Fuck."
Liz blinks. "What?"
Liz says "Daimon?"
Daimon says "Hold on a second. I will be right back."
Liz looks back at the 'gentleman'.
Liz says "Daimon, wait a sec.. where are you going?"
Daimon gets up, walks across the resturant, to slide in the seat opposite the guy.
Liz says "Daimon, you said you'd be good..."
Liz acks.
Liz looks over at Sarah. "Are we doomed, or is it just me?"
Daimon glares at him.
Sarah lowers her voice substantially. "I think he may be being good. And most likely it isn't just
you."
Daimon says "I'm... being... good. I am... telling you... to PLEASE... leave me... alone for a little
longer. Okay?"
Liz says, very quietly, "I think I'm going to have to tell him. Or I'm going to go nuts. Or he is. or
something."
The man looks at Daimon calmly. "You are not my concern at the moment, actually."
Liz sighs.
Daimon says "I'm not doing _anything_ to you."
Daimon says "And you're crawling on my forehead."
The man sighs. "Including, of course, that it was she I had hoped would come over in response."
Daimon narrows his eyes. "Why would she come over here? What did she do to you? She's not
evil. She's not working for us. And I like her."
Sarah answers Liz, quietly, "If you think it's appropriate."
Liz is keeping something of an eye on the ones over there.
Liz sighs. "I have *no* idea, Chephirah. I wasn't kidding about how odd this evening is."
The man says, "She did nothing to me. And you are welcome to like her. It's just, hm."
Daimon says "For God's sake. Can't a being get a little bit of peace?"
The man says, expressively, "I needed to speak to someone who witnessed events at the Opera
House, and you were under suspicion for -- well. I believe you've just more or less admitted to
that."
Daimon says "What do you think I am?"
Sarah shakes her head slightly. "I know, dear. I know." She glances at the other table. "This is,
overall, a very odd situation. Do be careful."
He half-smiles, half-shrugs. "Fallen," he says. "However, out of respect for your not crushing me
-- I extend the same courtesy. At least, until I understand things better myself."
Daimon says "Feh. Close, but not really on the mark. Look, I don't have any interest at all in
hurting you, or harming you, or doing any of that crap. I just want to finish my now ruined date
with a girl I like very much. Is that okay? Do I have your permission?"
He tilts his head to one side. "There's no need to be hostile. I just need to speak with her for a
moment -- or the other one, if you like."
Daimon says "What are they to you?"
Liz looks over to see how Daimon's doing. As nobody's shouting, things must be going okay.
The man hesitates a long time, and then says, "I can't say. I'm sorry."
Liz . o O (On the other hand...)
Daimon sighs, scowls, and shakes his head. "I hate this fucking War. I can't even have a date."
Daimon says "Sorry to have bothered you. And _please_ don't crawl on my face anymore. Okay?"
The man tries to conceal amusement. "It's very difficult to push someone to talk when one is a
bee. I will abide by your wishes in the matter of face-crawling, though."
Daimon says "Thanks. It's appreciated. You can go over and talk to anyone you want."
Hitherby says, "You will wait here for a moment?"
Daimon nods. "Sure."
Hitherby stands and walks over to Liz and Sarah's table.
Daimon fishes out a cigarette, drags the ash tray over, and buries his misery in tobacco.
Liz raises an eyebrow at the man coming over, and looks down at the bee.
Hitherbee flutters up and lands with great courtesy on Hitherman's shoulder.
Liz says "Ah. I see."
Sarah glances, in order, at bee, man, Daimon, and Liz.
Liz says "Chephirah, this is Hitherby, a Kyrio of Jordi. Hitherby, Chephirah, known here as Sarah,
a Servitor of Yves."
Sarah says "At least one of us - Ahh. Good evening."
Liz says this quietly, and somewhat conversationally.
Hitherby smiles, and sits down.
Liz says "You wanted to talk?"
Hitherby says "Just for a moment."
Liz looks over at Daimon, then back. "Well, you seem to have nicely rattled Daimon."
Sarah says "Mm. Possibly this may be to Daimon's benefit."
Hitherby says "Look -- I don't mean to interrupt the flirting, particularly if it's a pose -- but I need
to know whether he's the only reason you left the area of the Opera House. I've found at least one
demon there, and he might leave any time -- or if you thought that -- there was some reason to
believe that capturing or taking him out *wouldn't* be a good idea?"
Liz says "Which one was he? The demon, I mean. The stagehand?"
Hitherby says "'Props'. The old fat guy."
Hitherby says "He attacks your mind. It's nasty."
Hitherby shivers.
Liz says "Ick."
Liz says "Do you know what band of demon?"
Liz says "And are you okay?"
Hitherby says "I don't, and yah. I mean, I'll have nightmares if I bother to sleep for the next few
nights, and maybe if I don't -- but -- he's definitely part of one side of this thing."
Hitherby says "And I'm pretty sure that the two men Daimon was fetching are part of the other
side, but maybe the same side. But demons."
Hitherby says "I thought that, well. It's always good forcing demons out of town, but it'd be
particularly good if, you know, we got rid of one side so that nothing happens to Terethel's
'Opera'?""
Liz sighs. "Fantastic... well Daimon said his business here was almost done, but I don't think that's
right. He also said that the two guys took some 'resources', and he keeps going on about 'stuff'.
Hitherby says "Look -- were you *really* flirting with him, or were you trying to get information
out of him?"
Hitherby says "Please be honest."
Liz says "Ummm."
Liz blushes. "Both?"
Daimon waves a waiter over, so he can get some more wine.
Sarah rather pointedly watches Daimon's table.
Daimon decides that now is a good time to drink.
Hitherby says "Okay."
Liz says "He seems pretty harmless. Well, for a Demon. And I'm sure he knows more about what's
going on than we do. He admitted to knowing 'Props'."
Liz says "I bet 'Props' is one of the two guys he's looking for."
Sarah says "He might, in that case, be useful."
Liz nods.
Hitherby nods. "Okay." She beams. "Good. I wasn't sure if you, um, *needed* to know that he
was one if you were flirting, or if you needed not to know so that you didn't get, well,"
Hitherby waves his hands around.
Liz smiles. "Oh, I figured out he was a demon last night."
Hitherby says "Cool."
Liz says "Lilim, very likely, of Comedy."
Hitherby mulls that over.
Liz says "And fairly high ranked at that. He's a troubleshooter, sent here after 'a couple of guys
who bailed from the Org', so Props and the other one might be Renegade."
Liz says "Or just up to other trouble."
Liz shivers. "I just had a thought. Comedians love jokes, and 'Props' is a stagehand. I really don't
like the thought of that."
Hitherby sighs. "He attacked an angel. *First*. I don't think we can treat him kindly, although
hog-tying him and delivering him to a Tether to decide whether to get on the fast-track to
Redemption or the fast-track to death is good. Props, I mean."
Liz says "Doesn't sound 'Redemption-like' to me. Did he know you're an angel?"
Sarah says "Mm, yes. Perhaps that would be best taken care of tonight."
Liz says "Remember, there's Gamesters running around too."
Daimon looks around for the waiter with his booze.
Hitherby nods. "All the better. It'll drive them nuts if they don't find who they're looking for."
Daimon considers ordering something sufficiently stronger.
Much wine is brought to Daimon's table.
Daimon imbibes with relish.
Liz says "Hmm."
Liz says "'Taking care of demons' isn't really my specialty. Maybe we should bring in Hubert and
Eduardo and Pat? This is more their thing."
Liz says "I'm sure they'd love a clear shot at a demon."
Hitherby grins. "Look. I'll let Daimon go back to talking with you." He carefully hands Liz the
bee, concealing it as best he can with his body during the transfer. "But get what you can from
him, and then we should --" He sighs. "Mine either. I mean, I expect I'd be good at it, but mine
either."
Hitherby says "And then we should do *something*. Fast."
Liz tucks the bee back in her pocket with the holster.
Liz says "All right. Buzz three times in my ear if you need me to 'talk' to you."
Sarah says "I don't suppose there's a chance one of us could find Props' ostensible address. The
trio might appreciate that."
Liz says "Now there's an idea."
Liz says "It'd be back at the opera house."
Hitherby says "He's in his office, and since he's a demon, he has no reason to leave. Where else
in the Opera would his address be?"
Liz looks back at Daimon. "Hmm. Chephirah, do you and Hitherby want to track down his
address? The business manager or personnel manager would have it."
Liz says "Back at the opera."
Liz says "Or it'd be in their management records."
Sarah regards Liz faintly skeptically. "I'm sorry, dear, but I really don't think I'm inclined to leave
you alone with him just yet."
Liz blushes again, then smiles. "But I have a bee in my pocket."
Liz says "Besides, he was a perfect gentleman... well, for Daimon at least, last night."
Liz says "I think I'm safer with him than going after 'Props'."
Daimon drinks more.
Sarah says "Was he drunk last night?"
Liz says "If you want, tune yourself to me? That way if you need to find me in a hurry, you can."
Liz says "Um, pretty drunk. I had to pile him into a taxi."
Liz says "I can keep Hitherby with me as well."
Sarah says "I wouldn't be able to do a very good job of protecting you if you weren't here, would
I."
Liz smiles.
Liz says "I think I can get more information out of him if we're alone."
Liz says "Although I wouldn't mind terribly if you were nearby, either. Hitherby might get in touch
with Eduardo and the others and track down 'Props', if you'd rather stay nearby."
Liz . o O (Cherubim...)
Sarah sighs. "You're determined to make this difficult."
Liz says "Would you rather bop him on the head and threaten to make him watch Gilligan's Island
until he tells us what's going on?"
Hitherby says "No. No *television*. It's not worth it."
Sarah replies, without a trace of humor, "The thought is tempting."
Liz smiles. "Make Daimon watch TV, Hitherby. You could wait outside."
Hitherby says, staunchly, "We should not use the tools of Hell lest we be corrupted by them."
Hitherby says "Besides, those moving pictures scare me."
Liz blinks. "Um... okay. You'd rather we tied a bungee cord around his ankles and dropped him
out of my plane at 5000 feet until he talked?
Hitherby says "That could be good!"
Sarah takes off her glasses and rubs at her eyes.
Liz looks over at Sarah. "Are you okay?"
Hitherby looks uncomfortable. "I told him I'd be through quickly."
Liz says "You'd better go then."
Daimon just concentrates on getting the wine from point A (glass) to point B (bloodstream).
Liz says, "Sorry for this, but I need to keep my cover."
Hitherby smiles. "Sarah, if you leave early, I'll follow."
Liz puts on a harsh face, stands up, and says, "I think you'd better go now..." in a tight voice.
Hitherby says "Probably in a mosquito."
Sarah murmurs, "I shan't swat, then."
Hitherby backs away. "Fine."
Hitherby stalks back to Daimon's table like a wet cat, even though that wasn't really very harsh.
Liz sits back down, and turns to Sarah, looking concerned.
Hitherby taps Daimon's shoulder. "I'm done."
Daimon looks up at Hitherby.
Daimon says "You want some wine?"
Sarah says weakly, "This is all very odd."
Liz says "I've been saying that all evening."
Hitherby says "I'm sorry." He shrugs, and pulls out a chair so he can sit without his legs being
under the table. "I don't really drink."
Sarah says "I've been agreeing with you all evening."
Daimon says "Ah yes. Angels. I do so in large quantities, because it keeps me from thinking."
Daimon stands up, and takes his bottle and glass. "Well, a good night to you then sir."
Liz orders tea and coffee for the table.
Hitherby says, mildly, "Not all angels; me. But good night; have fun on your date. I don't think
you'll hurt her -- but if your Superior is the kind who insists -- still don't hurt her."
Daimon says "I swear, I will not hurt her."
Hitherby smiles. "Thanks."
Daimon says "And even if He did insist, hell, then it's time to change contracts."
Daimon nods to Hitherby. "Have a good night, and all that."
Daimon saunters over to his table, where Liz and Sarah are.
Hitherby looks around for someone leaving the restaurant.
Liz looks up, perhaps a bit frazzled. "There you are."
Daimon says "Yeah. Are you okay?"
Liz says "That was...odd."
Sarah says "Rather."
Liz says "Seems to be the theme of the night."
Daimon nods. "It's been a strange night."
Daimon slides into his seat.
Daimon says "He didn't threaten you in any way, did he?"
Liz says "Only when I mentioned television. He said it was a tool of the devil."
Hitherby will eventually find such a person and jump into them, she assumes, nab a mosquito
outside, and be available to accompany Sarah if she should in fact decide to leave early.
Daimon laughs sort of hollowly. "It is a tool of the devil."
Liz looks cockeyed at Daimon. "Oh, and you'd know?"
Daimon says "I'm pretty positive."
---